Convert a 98 to synthetic, filter and interval

N

Newenzo

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i just bought a 98 four cylinder and am loving it.

It has been running on Dino oil and I'd like to switch to synthetic. I read on mobile one site they recommend the first change to synthetic should be a short interval with both oil and filter. Make sense, or marketing ploy?

In any case, I have never used synthetics before, always used Dino with fram oil filters change every 3000 miles on my now passed :( first gen.

What intervals would be conservatively safe to use with the synthetics in a 98 with 180k? I was thinking of just doubling and moving to change oil and filter every 6 or 7000 miles with synthetic. Sound reasonable? I'd rather not get into any used oil analyses btw. I know that is probably ideal but would just rather not.

I usually buy my oil and filters at Walmart, do they happen to carry a decent filter? I think I want to get away from fram, especially for the first oil change I do.

Thanks for any recommendations.
 
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Newenzo said:
i just bought a 98 four cylinder and am loving it.

It has been running on Dino oil and I'd like to switch to synthetic. I read on mobile one site they recommend the first change to synthetic should be a short interval with both oil and filter. Make sense, or marketing ploy?

In any case, I have never used synthetics before, always used Dino with fram oil filters change every 3000 miles on my now passed :( first gen.

What intervals would be conservatively safe to use with the synthetics in a 98 with 180k? I was thinking of just doubling and moving to change oil and filter every 6 or 7000 miles with synthetic. Sound reasonable? I'd rather not get into any used oil analyses btw. I know that is probably ideal but would just rather not.

I usually buy my oil and filters at Walmart, do they happen to carry a decent filter? I think I want to get away from fram, especially for the first oil change I do.

Thanks for any recommendations.
Click to expand...

Just be careful since a leak might present itself after the switch, mine leaked after I switched (180k 02 4Runner) and I'm not implying synthetic caused the leak to all those would be ready to flame.... Anyway, you can push it to 9-12k I've heard. Synthetics usually mean you can go a bit longer than normally since they work better. Don't quote me and I know someone will probably quote and criticize what I'm saying but it's opinion, their like *******s everybody has one. Personally I'm not gonna wait until I hit 9-12k miles but I'm saying that I've read that that's what some people do. I'd do it at the same intervals or stretch it out an extra month or two while checking your oil. My belief is that there is no time or mileage interval better than the good old eyes to check and see.
 
It's almost a given your valve cover seals will start to leak soon with or without synthetic. For me my crank seal was dripping when I got it. So I had to replace it......which was a excuse to do a timing belt kit. And re torquing the valve covers fix the leaks there too. That was the 96 that is now totaled.

The 97 we got as a replacement is up in the air yet. I'm running rotella T6 like the 96 and it's only got 1000 on the oil change. However I am thinking about replacing valve cover gaskets. I must degrease and watch it.
 
I use Amsoil Signature Synthetic Bottle says it can last up to 20k miles with a filter change every 7k...

I change both the oil and filter at 5k as I like being a bit more conservative and I off-road her a bit.

You should be MORE than okay with a 5k mile interval with any synthetic.
 
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I also use the Amsoil Signature series oil and their filter which supposedly can last 15K miles.
Distance is varied IMO on HOW you drive.

For instance if you are like me, driving mostly CITY driving, stop and go, short trips and I only drive on average about 5000 miles per year then what I do is change my oil and filter ONCE per year, mileage is not a problem.

OR like last year I went on a 7,700 mile trip cross country hauling 800# of shyt in the cargo area, mostly like 90+% was highway miles at 70mph though.
I let that oil change go for 8000 miles.

In my wifes Lexus ES300 which we just sold because we never drove it, the last oil change I did on it only had 354 Miles on it, but it had been one full year.

I would say in general if you do NOT run a "Bypass Oil Filter" which would extend your interval considerably IMO because largely the problem with running oil past say about 8000-10,000 miles is the FILTRATION not the oil.
Regular size oil filters can only hold but so much before they start bypassing by the relief valve and then you have no filtration at all.
So IF you installed a good By Pass system then I could see running the oil maybe 10,000 miles or so, even a bit more (12-13,000) if its mostly all easy highway miles.
Regular oil filter, regardless which one I do not think I would run my filter past about 8000 miles, so I would change the OIL and the Filter within 8000 or less, OR 1 Year which ever comes first.
 
Nunyabiz said:
I also use the Amsoil Signature series oil and their filter which supposedly can last 15K miles.
Distance is varied IMO on HOW you drive.

For instance if you are like me, driving mostly CITY driving, stop and go, short trips and I only drive on average about 5000 miles per year then what I do is change my oil and filter ONCE per year, mileage is not a problem.

OR like last year I went on a 7,700 mile trip cross country hauling 800# of shyt in the cargo area, mostly like 90+% was highway miles at 70mph though.
I let that oil change go for 8000 miles.

In my wifes Lexus ES300 which we just sold because we never drove it, the last oil change I did on it only had 354 Miles on it, but it had been one full year.

I would say in general if you do NOT run a "Bypass Oil Filter" which would extend your interval considerably IMO because largely the problem with running oil past say about 8000-10,000 miles is the FILTRATION not the oil.
Regular size oil filters can only hold but so much before they start bypassing by the relief valve and then you have no filtration at all.
So IF you installed a good By Pass system then I could see running the oil maybe 10,000 miles or so, even a bit more (12-13,000) if its mostly all easy highway miles.
Regular oil filter, regardless which one I do not think I would run my filter past about 8000 miles, so I would change the OIL and the Filter within 8000 or less, OR 1 Year which ever comes first.
Click to expand...

Agreed lol. Was a bit lazy to write something this informative. But basically the cleanliness of your oil will only be as good as your filter is. And with the size of most of these filters I believe they can't go a whole hell of long. I usually use the Mobil 1 extended life's which I was really happy with, but every store was out of mine.... A total of 5 stores, so I settled for k&n.
 
I run SuperTech Full Synthetic 5w-30 from Walmart at a 6500-7000 mile OCI. The money I save on oil I spend on a premium over-sized filter: NAPA Platinum 41516. It has all-synthetic media and gets good reviews on BITOG. I do UOA's from Blackstone every two years and they say all is good and I can go longer if I want to, but I can't take that emotionally.
 
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I run the penzoil natural gas stuff. I have the 3rz as well and I really like it so far. Next oil change will be Feb or Mar so I will have more to report then.
 
Pick an interval and send the oil in to be analyzed at the first oil change.

Blackstone Labs can do an analysis and recommend a new interval based on what they find and what the interval was for the oil they analyzed.

The 3k interval for dino oil is ridiculous. It's the product of the oil companies looking to line their pockets. My diesel pickups work 5x harder than my 4Runner and they get oil changes at 5,500 and an analysis every three changes.
 
Fram filters are pure garbage so it's a waste to use good oil and a junk filter.
Use a Wix as it's cheap and quality!
 
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